Attracting hummingbirds to your yard is easy!
Fresh nectar from flowers is your best bet.
Here's what to expect:
- Hummingbird season in Washington
- 8 Flowers in Washington Hummingbirds Love
- 5 Tips for Attracting Hummingbirds
How long is hummingbird season in Washington State?
Hummingbirds migrate from the south up through Washington in late April.
Southbound hummingbird migration wraps up in September.
Make sure your flowers are ready for hummingbird migration
Plant your perennials so they bloom at slightly different times.
You want some flowers to bloom in early April & others to bloom in the summer when they start breeding.
This ensures hummingbirds have a steady supply of nectar!
8 Flowers to Attract Hummingbirds in Washington
Make sure to follow our 5 Tips for Attracting Hummingbirds
1. Golden Currant (Ribes aureum)
- Perennial
These shrubs offer essential early nectar making it a premier choice for hummingbirds.
It's April bloom is ideal for hummingbird migration to Washington
This plant also doubles as a great nesting site for other birds.
2. Foxglove (Digitalis)
- Perennial
Foxglove is great for partially shaded areas.
It’s an ideal hummingbird plant for suburban Washington yards since it’s deer resistant.
Beware— Foxglove is toxic. All plant parts cause severe poisoning.
3. Columbine (Aquilegia)
- Perennial
This drought resistant flower is a hummingbird favorite!
It blooms late spring which is ideal for hummingbird migration to Washington.
Related: 6 Easy DIY Hummingbird Feeders (They're Basically Free!)
4. Bee Balm (Monarda)
- Perennial
An herbaceous plant in the mint family.
Hummingbirds and butterflies love this flower!
It’s spreading behavior varies so keep an eye on it making sure it doesn’t take over your garden.
5. Harebell (Campanula rotundifolia)
- Perennial
This must-have hummingbird plant in Washington.
It blooms early summer to fall which is ideal for succession gardening.
And the its bloom coincides with the peak presence hummingbirds, ensuring they'll stick around all summer long.
6. Fireweed (Chamaenerion angustifolium)
- Perennial
A dominant, bright pink nectar source blooming in mid-to-late summer.
Hummingbirds can see this tall flower from a distance!
It's visibility makes it ideal for attracting hummingbirds during migration & breeding season.
7. Common Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
- Perennial
Common Bearberry has small red berries that bears and birds eat.
The small pink and white flowers are popular and nectar rich for hummingbirds
- Related: 9 Ways to Attract Hummingbirds
8. Red Elderberry (Sambucus racemosa)
- Perennial
Red Elderberry blooms in early spring giving hummingbirds a reliable nectar source after migrating to Washington.
Elderberry shrubs are great nesting sites for other birds, too.
All around a win-win for pollinators and year-round birds
5 Tips for Attracting Hummingbirds During Migration
1. Use Red Flowers
Hummingbirds are red sensitive.
They visit many colors but warm reds, yellows, and oranges increase the odds of them picking your flowers.
2. Avoid Invasive Plants
They can displace native vegetation.
- Butterfly Bush: discouraged because it crowds out native plants that support pollinators
- Foxglove: spreads aggressively & displaces native plants
Check with the Washington Native Plant Society before planting.
3. Use Hummingbird Feeders
When in doubt put up nectar feeders.
Hummingbirds will come for bird feeder but stay for the flowers!
Check out the Best Homemade Hummingbird Food Recipe
4. Group Plants Together
Grouping similar plants in clumps makes them easier for hummingbirds to spot.
Use companion planting to make sure your garden thrives!
5. Avoid Pesticides
Insecticides protect plants from destructive insects.
Many store bought pesticides can kill the insects hummingbirds eat and rely on for protein.
Opt for these eco-friendly insecticide alternatives:
What flowers do your hummingbirds like?
Share them on the Sparkbird App! Where like minded birders and nature enthusiasts go to share.
Available in the Apple App Store.
